My experience with BK support (Brake-Fade) - RC-Monster Forums

Dafni · **My experience with BK support (Brake-Fade) -** 06.06.2005, 02:45 AM

Well, well, Folks. Many of you know the story. We already talked about it a few times.
BK's ESC, the Warrior 9918, is a great controller with a reasonable price. I have two of them, and basically I am verry happy with their performance.
BUT, as you might know, one in hundred (or so) warriors shows this ugly phenomenon called Brake Fade. It's when your brakes say bye-bye when the controller gets warm (warm! not hot)
One of my controllers shows this nasty behaviour, and this annoying feat was already responsible for quite some wreckage.
Apparently, some electronic component has some inconsistency, but is still within the specifications, and it looses its performance once its warm

Quote:

Originally posted by RC-Monster Mike
Well, after some long discussion with BK, they say the problem is in the IC chips. They say there is a specification variance on these parts (not controllable) and if the ICs are on the low end of the variance, this will happen. Dafni, I mentioned your similar issue as well (they remembered your name). I think I may be able to get them replaced (and hope for better ICs on the replacement).

So before Mike got this usefull information out of BK, I sent my bad ESC in for "re-programming". The guy who answered my mails told me it will only take 48hours.
Okay, after request I was told there's nothing wrong with it (and no explanation) I just must have ran it too hot. Strange, though, because I told them if I install another 9918, it works fine on the same setup.
So the BK guys sent my controller back, without modification. But, apparently they forgot to add the papers for the custom, so at the moment my package is somewhere at the swiss custom:M:

Then I saw this info from Mike, and as I wrote BK something on the lines of: Too bad your products have this inconsistency, but I'm glad I got the proper explanation over a friend .... they just replied: Eh, that's called product specification, sorry

...

:rolleyes:

luihed · 06.06.2005, 03:44 AM

Sorry to hear your problem with BK, my controller is there right now, I hope they treat me better..... Good luck and im sure Mike will help you out....

Dafni · 06.06.2005, 03:52 AM

Well, actually I feel they weren't treading me bad. They just weren't very helpful. And they didn't want to give me proper explanations, too.
The fact that they forgot the custom papers didn't seem important to them.

I'm glad I met Mike, and he really cares for his customers.

Batfish · 06.06.2005, 10:48 AM

I'd like to echo Dafni's last comment;
I'm very glad I chose RC-Monster.com as my brushless solution provider. Mike has been incredibly helpful and cooperative. This message board is also a great resource for brushless information and advice.

Mike's still helping me out with my 9918 brake-fade issue.

Serum · 11:22 AM

I seriously expected a better service from them.

I am sure Mike will give you the helping hand.

They can't sell this inconsequent controllers. perhaps it would be fine on a 6S in a 1/12th car, but this controller must be able to deliver 99A@20cells and it sure must be able to stop the vehicle as well (and not only once). There is nothing in the usermanual about this brakefading either.

And it should be replaced, without a fuzz. not be sent back, with this excuse..

They admit and located this error. so why not replace it?

They should claim it at the IC manufacturer or replace the IC's with types that are suited for this application.

I know that Motorola normally has got tollerances on the possitive side, but you never ever can develop/design a product on this higher than average values.

And fetts and transistors are not able to handle the listed power when they are 40-50 degrees. (if a fett can deliver 60A on 20 degrees, it is likely it can only handle 20-30A on 50-60 degrees)

Dafni · 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Serum

And it should be replaced, without a fuzz. not be sent back, with this excuse..

They admit and located this error. so why not replace it?

Totally agree, Serum! But for them this is not an "Error" :C: First off they told me it's my fault, I must have ran it too hot. Then I told them if I try another 9918 it works flawless, but got no reply at all on that.
In the end, I wrote them: Thanks to Mike Cronin, I now understand the reason for the inconsistency in your product. And I think it's a pitty, first that you haven't tried to explain this to me, and second, that your otherwise great products show something like this.
They just replied: Eh, that's called Specifications , you know

:rolleyes:

I also agree with Batfish!! If it weren't for Mike and his place here, with all the valuable members, I would have been totally lost in the BL desert (:L: killed be the heat, too) Before I found this place, I was close to ditching the hobby.
'nuff respect to RCM-Mike:cool:

Dafni · 06.09.2005, 04:21 AM

Well, I have to right the wrongs!

Listen, guys, I just had a phone call with a very friendly guy from BK. My controller is still not here, due to some lunatic from the swiss custom, but apparently BK replaced the electronic components which MAY have caused problems! :cool:

I give them a big RESPECT!

This guy also told me that BK has a conversion kit for Revos, which will be available in the next month. And he also explained to me how pointless my (or our) motor/combo decisions are. Apparently there's no getting around the Lehner 19.. series if you want to have a proper setup.

Serum · 06.09.2005, 04:55 AM

Yeah!!

Great to hear this!!

It's going to work out fine afterall..

I was hoping for a solution like this! the 19 series is a real powerhouse, i heard about people using these motors with redicilous much cells.

BK can make you any conversion you wish, they also made a conversion for the Genesis .46 (20 cells, 101 km/h with a 2280!!!?? motor..)

scoobie doobie · 06.10.2005, 12:17 AM

So could it be that the problem is caused by using the wrong motor? I am using a 9918/fiegao 8s on 8 and 9 cells in a T4 and my setup functioned flawlessly, for about 10 onroad cycles, then the first time I drove it offroad I lost brakes after about 3 minutes...and its been a problem ever since, on and off road. I havent had the money to replace it, and I dont want to be without it for 4+ months until I have a replacement. Any chance a change in motors could solve the problem?

Dafni · 06.10.2005, 01:52 AM

If you send the controller to BK, and the readings will not reveal any errors on your side, they will fix it for free. Also, in principle this is very fast. The repair of mine only took them one day, too bad the guys from the swiss custom are so hard to deal with.

btw, mine had brake-fade right from the beginning.

06.11.2005, 06:01 PM

Hmm... I've also experianced this "Brake-Fade" a few times before, when i first got it. It hasnt been doing it lately, tho. But before, it was everytime i took it out... the brakes would work again if i unplugged the batteries, and plugged them in again.

Strange...

supermaxx4190 · 06.11.2005, 06:20 PM

i am also very happy i bought my brushless system from mike. my 9918 went up in smoke for no reason. In about 2 weeks mike told me that they are going to replace it for free. well i needed the controller for a season opener race, and it didnt look like my replacement would be back in time. so mike actully gave me his controller. mike has been very helpful to me. after seeing and driving my friends new revo, im thinking about converting one to brushless.

Dafni · 06.15.2005, 02:26 AM

Controller arrived yesterday! But the shrink hasn't been removed, contradictory to what the BK guy told me on the telephone. So they haven't changen components.
But I had a very informative phonecall with a girl who works at BK, and she told me if the Brake Fade persists, they will replace the controller for free.
Let's see, I will test it ASAP.